South Asia News
Fuel price increase in Sri Lanka sparks strikes, protests
Feb 13, 2012, 8:20 GMT
Colombo - Fuel price increases in Sri Lanka sparked protests and strikes, officials said Monday.
Private bus operators canceled services, fishermen refused to go to sea and bakers have threatened to raise prices.
The government on Sunday increased diesel prices 37 per cent.
It promised fuel at subsidized rates for private bus operators, van services, three-wheel transport and fishing boats, but no plan was put into effect Monday to provide it.
It also raised petrol prices 9 per cent and kerosene by 49.5 per cent.
Fishermen kept 6,000 boats ashore in protest.
Petroleum Minister Susil Premajayantha said increasing fuel costs in the world market had forced the government to revise prices.
'We have also appealed to the United States to preclude Sri Lanka from the sanctions imposed on Iran as it could raise the fuel bill further if the country is to look for alternative suppliers,' he said.
Sri Lanka imports 93 per cent of its fuel from Iran.
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